Hey all! Sorry again with the wait. Hopefully you're still interested in seeing Carson come home. :)
Thanks so much to my betas and brainstorming friends, especially for your encouragement.
This is the final chapter for this story, I hope you have enjoyed it. Please review!
Through the Fire by GraceW
~Chapter 8~
John Sheppard stepped out of the gate confidently, ready with the P90 just in case the planet wasn't as friendly as they thought. His team, plus the two medical personnel stood near the DHD, waiting for him. Dark clouds blanketed sky overheadas an impending storm rolled in. The tops of the tall trees around the gate swayed in the heavy wind. It gave a dreary feeling, one that John pushed away to focus on the task at hand.
"McKay!" John called out, anxious to get going. "Where's our heading? We have to get going."
"Give me a minute." Rodney muttered, his fingers flying over the life-signs detector. After a couple seconds, he looked up and pointed into the distance. "Um…that way. I think."
"You think? We wouldn't want to get lost…again." John rolled his eyes subtly enough for Rodney to miss, causing Ronon and Teyla to chuckle softly.
"Hey! That wasn't my fault! There was a perfectly logical reason for that. We should have brought a jumper then, just like now. It's probably going to rain." Rodney rambled as he glanced up at the sky, unconsciously tugging his jacket collar.
"Yes, it would have been nice, but these trees block the gate, and the last thing we need is a crashed jumper. You'll be fine."
They marched on in silence, tension and impatience thick through the cool air. Rocks and broken branches covered the forest floor, but a faint path cut through the dense foliage. John led the way, with Rodney on his tail. Jeff Peralez and Derek Hopper, the Marine medics, walked in the middle and Ronon and Teyla covered their six. The uphill climb caused some heavy breathing from Rodney, but, uncharacteristically, he didn't complain. Three minutes later, they reached the top of the tree covered hill. Gazing out, they spied a scanty village, consisting of thirty or forty ramshackle houses and a few larger buildings. The valley itself was filled with fields of growing crops, ranging from vine-like plants to small leafy greens. A few scattered individuals worked in the field, tending to the precious crops. Just a small population of people, struggling to survive, most likely recovering from a recent culling. At least locating Carson shouldn't be a difficult task. If he wasn't here, there were probably quite a few towns on this planet; John just hoped they would get lucky with this one.
The group picked up the pace down the well-traveled dirt path toward the village. The workers that were close enough stood, giving the Lanteans suspicious looks. John simply smiled and nodded in greeting and continued on. The people around the houses and inside the small town, stared warily, confused at the strangely dressed off-worlders. Some the children even scurried behind family members or into their homes.
John stopped the group as they made their way into the town square and turned his head, meeting Teyla's eyes. She took the hint and walked up to a group of people, politely asking if anyone had seen Atlantis's Scottish doctor. After a minute of conversation, as well as some pointing and nodding, Teyla came back, a sparkle of hope in her eyes. "They said they did not see Carson, but, assuming he is injured, the person to talk to would be one of their healers. She lives down this first street." She pointed across the square.
John squinted down the dark narrow road, "Teyla, how about you take point."
She took off through the thinning crowd and the team followed single file. Turning onto the road that the villager had specified, Teyla glanced backwards. The entire team had serious looks on their faces, focused and determined. There would be no joking, complaining or distractions. They were so close to finding Carson, she could feel it. But what they would find would be another story.
There weren't as many people down this street, but the ones that were there stopped and stared. This village must not get a whole lot of visitors. Teyla's attention flew to a small commotion about a hundred meters away. John's eyes immediately spied where she was looking, finding the source of the commotion just in time to see the lost Carson Beckett collapse. John and Teyla took off at a sprint together, knowing that their team would figure it out.
As they approached, the people that had congregated retreated slightly, giving the Lantean team room to work. The older dark-skinned lady who had been supporting Carson had a very worried motherly look on her face as she attempted to help him. She looked up at John, her gold eyes serious and questioning. "You are here to help?"
"We are." John reached down, giving the classic crooked smile, and helped the woman onto her feet, just as Peralez and Hopper assessed the situation and began checking the unconscious doctor's health.
"Oh, thank the Ancestors." She put a hand over her heart and stammered. "My name is Nean, I've been caring for him. He had a fever, and his burns are not healing well at all."
Teyla handled the situation with her usual grace and understand, placing her hand on the older woman's shoulder. "I am certain you did all you could. But we will take Carson home, where he will receive the best care possible."
Nean's brown eyes glistened with unshed tears and she gripped Teyla's hand earnestly. "He will recover better in his home. You will come to visit? I have to know."
"I promise." Teyla looked up at John, who kept glancing at the medical team.
"Alright, we've got it from here. Thanks, really." John flashed the best smile he could muster, and then turned his back, looking down at Carson again. The medics had done their primary assessment. They had already moved him onto the small stretcher and were prepping to take him back to the gate.
"Colonel, we've got him mostly stabilized, but he's going to need to get back to Atlantis as soon as possible." Peralez addressed John, while Hopper covered Carson with a blanket. "We are ready to go."
The trek back to the gate took much longer than it had to the town, but it went smoothly enough for everyone. Peralez and Hopper carried the stretcher, but their caution and the nature of Carson's injuries slowed the whole group down. After taking almost twice as long to get back, the gate itself was a sight for sore eyes. They breathed a collective sigh of relief as the blue puddle closed around them.
As soon as they walked through the wormhole and stepped into Atlantis's gateroom John could feel the apprehension. Anxious eyes met his as he surveyed the group that had gathered in the gateroom. The medical team that had been standing-by swarmed the weary group as soon as they stepped through the gate. Peralez and Hopper helped out, exchanging information with Dr. Susanna Krause. The German doctor appeared calm as she took control of the situation, giving orders and directing the medics. Within a minute, Carson had been placed on a stretcher and whisked away to the infirmary.
Elizabeth came running down the stairs, her dark brown hair fluttering around her drawn face. John reached out and touched her arm, quelling the numerous questions she had. "He's going to be okay, Elizabeth."
She smiled, probably for the first real time in days, "Good."
Almost a week of more bed rest and numerous medical treatments had left Carson Beckett feeling stir crazy. He was very unaccustomed to being useless around his infirmary staff. And although a trip through the Stargate wasn't his favorite thing in the world, he had really looked forward to getting away from Atlantis for a bit. Elizabeth had encouraged him to visit Nean once he felt up to it, and Teyla volunteered to accompany him.
"Would you like more tea for the road?" The elderly woman had a sparkle in her eye as she rose to tidy up the table.
"Nah, but thank ye Nean. It was delicious, even if it didn't have any of your special medicinal herbs." Carson smiled with a wink at his host as he stood, quickly checking around his seat to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything. "Thank ye once again for your hospitality."
"Thank you, Nean. Your kindness cannot be repaid." Teyla spoke sincerely, reaching out to touch the other woman's shoulder. The Athosian had returned from a walk she had taken to give Nean and Carson some time to visit.
After a heartfelt goodbye, and promise to return again, Carson and Teyla left the rural village and soon were back in the familiar Ancient city they called home.
The infirmary was alive again. Researchers came in and out, sharing test results and conversations with the medical technicians in the clinical lab. Nurses performed their duties with smiles, sharing jokes with the patients and each other. Carson directed the flow and buzz of activity for the first time in ten days. His body was still in the process of recovering, but he felt the need to get back into his normal routine. Dr. Krause watched him like a hawk, but so far he had been pretty careful about overexerting himself.
Carson plopped down in his office chair, grimacing slightly at his itchy bandages but enjoying the moment off his feet. He closed his eyes for a moment, his ears catching the faint hum of the medical equipment, the multiple voices of his colleagues and Nurse Kim's distant, yet distinctive, giggle.
It was good to be back.
Fin :)